Cemetery Curiosities

Perth Cemeteries - revisited and new

2011-12-06T18:54:00.001+11:00

I travelled to Perth to see my family in October this year. My Dad kindly took me along to Karrakatta Cemetery after we were foiled at the gates of the East Perth Cemetery (which was only open on Sundays) which we had planned on exploring. I have been to Karrakatta Cemetery before but it is a huge cemetery and found much to engage us again on this return trip. It is a huge place and there was lots to see. I have included some of the best pictures from this cemetery below and more will go into My Photographic Collection. I have include a few highlights below. We duly went back on Sunday to visit the East Perth Cemetery and found some interesting headstones and visited the little chapel within.

I have used some references material from "Stories in Stone: A Field Guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography" by Douglas Keister in this blog. Fantastic book.

Ferns - symbols of humility, frankness and sincerity.

Urn - reverential accessory or symbol of the veil between earth and the heavens

Ivy - because it is always green, even in harsh conditions, it is normally associated with immortality and fidelity. It can also indicate attachment, friendship and undying affection because it clings for support. The three pointed leaves may also represented the Holy Trinity.

Hourglass - symbolic of time passing rapidly or as the hourglass can be inverted over and over again, it could suggest the cyclical nature of life and death.

Folded Acanthus?

Acanthus - the leaves of this plant are thorny and are often used to symbolise the 'prickly' journey from life to death and then to eternal life.

Celtic cross with clover and harp

Clover - symbol of the trinity. Legend says that St Patrick brought back the clover to Ireland to be an enduring symbol of the trinity. The clover, renamed the shamrock henceforth became the symbol of Ireland. It is also a symbol of vitality because of its abundant growth. Harp - source of divine music and associated with heavenly aspirations. Celtic Cross - the four arms can represented the four elements, or the four provinces of Ireland. The circle joining the four arms is referred to as the 'nimbus'. IHS - represents Christ's name in the greek alphabet: Iota, Eta, Sigma

Man and Child

Decaying figure with child

Laid down angel

Mary adored

Stigmata Jesus

Winged soldier

Tiny Mary

Penrith here I come!!!

2011-07-09T09:40:00.001+10:00

Went for an epic journey (it is epic if you live in Inner West Sydney) to Penrith to visit 4 more cemeteries on my list of locations. I was saddened to see one of them in a state of disrepair, gravestones laying all about the place and not much care in sight. This was in Jamistown, the Sir John Jamison Catholic Cemetery at the northern end of Lilac Place. I did take some shots there and was pleased to see a rather interesting headstone that depicted two angels holding up a crown together. This will be uploaded as soon as I can fix my photography software on my new virtual computer (long story).

The other three produced more interesting results. There are listed below with some small selections.

Other exciting news is that I found a fantastic book that I plan to have by me when entering new posts. It is titled: "Stories in Stone: A Field guide to Cemetery Symbolism and Iconography" by Douglas Keister. Apart from having entries on a huge range of the aforementioned, it also has fantastic collection of source photographs. I highly recommend it.

Emu Plains General Cemetery
Mundy Street, Emu Plains

Brief History

The foundation stone for St Pauls Church was laid in 1847. Situated on a low hill overlooking the plains,

the cemetery includes some fine stone monuments associated with early families in the area.

The site was also the location of part of the prison quarters and kitchen garden of the Government

Farm established here in 1819." (Source: Penrith City Council Library)

An inscription list can be found HERE

I found, amongst other things, a Doc Marten boot on a grave, just one. Just to the side of another, a chicken's egg. Here is a selection of some other pictures from the site. I hope to have them up under My Photographic Collection before the new year (2012!)

Manger Scene

Elaborate Cross

Chicken Egg....

Broken Wing

Truckin'

Penrith General Cemetery
Cox Avenue, Kingswood

Rose Horse

Girl and Dolphins

Blue Mary

Happy Flower

Horse Heads

In the Aquarium

Boy and Hand

St Mary's General Cemetery
Great Western Highway, St Marys

Free me from my pain

Angel with flowers

Contribution box

Finger detail

Cemeteries in the News!

2011-03-18T06:59:00.000+11:00

Am planning to sort out all my New Zealand pictures (from a trip in January) of cemeteries there...but time seems to be hard to find.....Anyway. In the meantime, have found an interesting story on The Atlantic website focussing on a book about American Cemeteries. The link to the article can be found HERE

Missed it! - Castlebook Memorial Park Cemetery

2010-12-27T13:46:00.001+11:00

I am not sure quite how this happened but as I am looking through my photographic collection and aligning it with my blog, I realise that I have photographed the Castlebrook Memorial Park Cemetery but not written anything about it or posted any photographs! So to rectify this I have set aside some space to include some information about the place and include 5 of the photographs from this excursion. The rest of the pictures can be see in my photographic collection, under Castlebrook Memorial Park Cemetery (cemeteries are listed alphabetically).

Crocodile attack

Dinosaur topiary

Cerberus

(...which guards the gates of Hades, to prevent those who have crossed the river Styx from ever escaping.

Source: Wikipedia)

Angelic Cerebus (?)

Who is this?

Grandpa on the motorised scooter...complete with oxygen mask (!)

Castlebook Memorial Park Cemetery is located at Kellyville Ridge in Northwest Sydney. I couldn't find much information about it, or its history beyond the information given on the website. However, I did find the list of rules and regulations interesting. One of the rules points out that it is within the rights of the cemetery board to remove objects from gravesites:

"Prohibited items – We may refuse, rectify or remove any ornamentation or changes to a memorial or site. For example, we will not allow and will remove items such as artificial flowers, statues, permanent wreaths or spays, boxes, shells and toys and anything that we consider detracts from the beauty of the Park or is a safety hazard, or is in conflict with these Rules."

I am wondering what such items might be. It seems that crocodiles, cerebus and dinosaurs are ok.

Long time, no see.

2010-12-27T12:16:00.001+11:00

It has been a long while since I have updated this blog...partly I think because I got busy but also because I am running out of cemeteries to visit within the inner Sydney region and so have to take the time to travel further and further out into the 'burbs' to see some new ones. I still have a list of 'cemeteries to visit' and I hope to get one fine day soon so I can go out with my camera. These include but are not limited to:

Mona Vale Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Chatswood South Methodist Cemetery (no website)
North Rocks Catholic Cemetery (not a direct link but the Catholic Cemetery website only has a page under construction for it)

However, I am going on a trip to New Zealand soon and hope to visit some cemeteries in that country. We are hiring a campervan to drive all over so will have some opportunities to see some in between the beautiful scenery! Some potential sites are listed in this useful website: New Zealand Cemeteries

Local Historic Cemeteries - City of Canterbury (Sydney)

2010-07-09T16:04:00.004+10:00

It is really hard to find information on the internet about church cemeteries in Sydney. You can find websites with alphabetical lists of all cemeteries in Sydney (or indeed Australia - see: Australian Cemeteries Index), and some people have taken the time to make websites including cemeteries from their local area (see: Cemetery Records Australia) However, trying to find a list of churches which still have graveyards attached is a little bit tricky. If anyone knows of a good site (or is planning to create one!) please let me know.

Anyway, today I visited two small inner city cemeteries which I found through Cemetery Records Australia

The Canterbury City Cemeteries Online website includes a small amount of information on each of the sites I visited today and i have taken some of this for my blog (see below).

I noticed a bit of a pattern in both of the cemeteries which was a number of gravetsones that had text inlaid at the base with various readings including: "Resting", "Remembered", "Sleeping", "Thy will be done" etc. You can see these on the pictures below. I spend ages trying to work out one only to discover it was the name of those interred; "Plumridge".

Moorefield Cemetery

I particularly liked this inscription on one headstone:

"This lovely bud so young & fair

called hence by early doom

Just came to show how sweet a flower

paradise will bloom"

Moorefield Cemetery

Moorefield Cemetery, Kingsgrove, NSW

"Moorefields Methodist Cemetery, Kingsgrove is located behind the church at 96a Moorefields Road, Kingsgrove (public access through Maramba Close). It is believed to be the oldest cemetery in Canterbury City with the first of over 1155 listed burials recorded on 6 January, 1855 for Emma Lees. The burial records can not be substantiated due to a fire destroying the early records in 1905.

Plots can no longer be purchased. Canterbury City Council is custodian of this cemetery and people with existing rights can arrange for relatives to be interred."

You can take a virtual tour of the cemetery or look at My Photographic Collection (soon to be updated) for more pictures of the site.

The Conservation Management Plan includes a layout of the cemetery, timeline history of the site and burial statistics amongst other information.

St Saviour's Cemetery, Punchbowl

From the Canterbury City Cemeteries Online website:

"The first recorded burial was for Catherine Elizabeth Pearson (age 36 years) on 19th February, 1878. There are many early pioneers of Canterbury City among the 1175 recorded burials"

You can take a virtual tour of the cemetery and find other information including details about the Church itself at the website.

Used the pinhole feature on my camera to take these shots

You can find out more information on both of these cemeteries from the publications of the Canterbury and District Historical Society.

St Bartholomew's Church & Cemetery - Prospect

2010-06-12T12:27:00.000+10:00

Ghost Tours included

After visiting Castlebrook Memorial Gardens Cemetery I did a search for cemeteries in the local area on my GPS. It is rather difficult to get a good list of all the cemeteries in Sydney, they are not particularly well indexed, so this is one way to find those small, out of the way places. This place was rather odd. In between huge the M4 and the Great Western Motorway it is shadowed by huge electricity towers. There is no real parking area, I had to turn off into a small drive way and walk up the hill to the church which is surrounded by large fencing and off-putting signs.

Searching the internet for information turned up this rather interesting link to Ghost Tours of the Cemetery. One happy customer reported: "t was a very cold night and i was freezing and shaking and then the tour guide asked me to sit on one of the graves and i stopped shivering and it suddenly wasn't cold anymore!"

Historical Information

"The Early Days..
It was from the top of Prospect Hill that Captain Watkin Tench first saw the Blue Mountains in 1789.
In 1791 Governor Phillip settled 12 families on small farms around the base of the Hill. These and later settlers were part of the Parish of St John's Church at Parramatta.
During the 1830s attempts were made to have an Anglican Church built at Prospect to serve the areas of Seven Hills and Prospect.
In 1838 William Lawson, resident at Veteran Hall Prospect, called for tenders to build the church. Prominent and local people had subscribed £376/3/- (approx. $750).
The Sydney Morning Herald of Saturday April 17 1841 reported that "On Wednesday last the Bishop of Australia laid the foundation of a Parochial Church at Prospect."
The Rev H H Bobart was appointed and performed the first services. The first baptism was of Margaret Goodin on May 2. 1841, the first marriage was of Thomas Moreing to Sarah McDonald on November 23 1841 and the first burial was of Ann Goodin, aged 15, on July 18 1841.
The church operated until the end of 1967 when it was closed due to increasing vandalism.
On Saturday November 4 1989 a fire gutted the church, destroying the roof and many of the interior fittings, including the organ and furniture.

The Interior...

The church is a plain spacious building comprising a nave chancel and vestry. The tower at the western end had a bell, which was rung from inside the porch. The font, a large shallow bowl on a stone column and base, stood on a slightly raised platform at the back of the church on the left. Six very large kerosene lamps were suspended from the ceiling and there were small wall lamps on the eastern end. A number of marble memorial tablets were on the walls. High box pews provided the seating on the north and south sides, with low backed pews with kneelers in the centre. A hand pumped pipe organ stood at the right hand side. The large windows were of clear glass bordered all around by coloured glass about 13 cm wide.
During 1881-1889 renovations were made and the wooden ceiling was replaced by a metal one, in memory of Robert Crawford. Other memorial gifts included a reading desk, pulpit, new communion rail and handsome font cover.

The Graveyard...

Many early settlers are buried in the graveyard. Among them are William Lawson, one of the first European settlers to cross the Blue Mountains and Thomas Willmot, the first Shire President of Blacktown" (Source: Blacktown: Historica St Bartholomew's Church)

Castle Hill Cemetery

2010-05-23T14:53:00.009+10:00

Cemetery with a Virtual Tour!

The most amazing find on the internet about the Castle Hill cemetery is the virtual tour! I could only get it to play in Internet Explorer but it was rather cool. You can click on the different sections and look around. See if you can find the graves that I took photographs (see 5 photos below or the entry for this cemetery on my photographic collection *coming soon*)

Castle Hill Cemetery - History & Headstones

"An 1897 Parish of Castle Hill map shows a large area bounded today by Showground and Gilbert Roads dedicated on 31 August 1895 for Public Recreation with a section reserved for a cemetery. The land, originally part of the 1801 Castle Hill Government Farm, had been included in a 165 acre Castle Hill Village Reserve set aside in 1861.

The NSW Government Gazette of 8 September 1902 stated that the land had been dedicated for a General Cemetery on 29 April 1881 and announced the appointment of Bruce Purser, Edwin George Crane, Clare Agrippa Gilbert, George Alexander Muir, Alfred William Bayly, Albert James James and Sylvanius Montefiore Charles Black as Trustees of the Church of England Burial Ground portion of the General Cemetery of Castle Hill.

The earliest burial in the Cemetery was in 1914 beside Cemetery Road as a fence had not been constructed to mark the boundaries. It was for George Philip Fitzroy who died 25 May 1914 aged 3 years 11 months. The first grave inside the fence (in the Anglican Monumental section) was also for another small boy, Robert James McKay who died 17 Feb 1918 aged 2 ½ years.

Originally Church of England (Anglican), Roman Catholic, Methodist (Uniting) and General sections were designated. A Cemetery Trust had been formed with representatives from each of the three local church groups. In June 1951 talks began about altering this and eventually a Local Government Act of 1967 transferred responsibility to The Hills Shire Council.

Since the late 1960s Lawns, Vaults, a Columbarium and Gardens have been added to accommodate the changing needs of our growing population. There are Anglican, Roman Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Muslim, Independent, Jewish and Baptist sections.

The Castle Hill Cemetery Entrance Gates, commissioned by Baulkham Hills Shire Council and designed by Giuseppe Organo of Fairfield, were dedicated in September 1978.

In 1967 Cemetery Road was renamed Gilbert Road after the Gilbert Family who had farmed extensive orchards for 100 years on land opposite the Cemetery and extending to Showground Road" (taken from Castle Hill History & Headstones)

Some more information on the cemetery:

"Castle Hill Cemetery is a unique haven located within a tranquil bushland setting, yet centrally placed
in the vibrant and growing residential suburb of Castle Hill. It is considered imperative that the peace,
tranquillity and natural beauty of the cemetery is maintained and enhanced in the future. To this end,
a Plan of Management has been commissioned to ensure that the cemetery continues to cater for
the needs of the community but also ensures the long term conservation and protection of the
remnant forest." Castle Hill Cemetery

Away in a Manger

Rainproof grave figurine

Metal Jesus

Angel and a picket fence

Cemetery Cats

Cessnock Cemetery

2010-05-23T14:28:00.001+10:00

Went to download some more photographs from my recent visit to Castebrook Memorial Gardens, St Bartholomew's and Castle Hill on Thursday and found these ones from Cessnock Cemetery unsorted. So, here is a taster of the ones from this cemetery situated right in the heart of the Hunter. Have to say that I was more impressed by the cemetery than the region in general - but this may have been due to my poor mood that the poor variety of sites to see.

The little history I found of Cessnock Cemetery include....

"Cessnock Cemetery is closed to new burials due to the high number of unmarked graves. Plots reserved prior to 1999 will be honoured." (Cessnock City Council)

Also on the Cessnock City council there was a few links to Cemetery related items including:

Grave Digger - specifications about Grave digging and what is involved....interesting...

Flaking angel

The detail on the wings of this angel are impressive

Moss layered hand

Bowral Expedition

2010-02-07T19:46:00.000+11:00

We recently went on a trip to Bowral, staying at a friend's house. The purpose of the trip was to relax, so of course I managed to get in a few trips to cemeteries whilst we were there. Some were very small, others larger...but all had something interesting to offer. The two larger cemeteries have their own entries but I have included Burradoo Wesleyan Cemetery (Burradoo Road, Bowral) and the St Simon and St Judes Anglican Cemetery (Bowral) here.

Burradoo Wesleyan Cemetery

My partner noticed the unusual text used on this gravestone

- 'relict' of the above. The word, according to Genealogy Glossary means

"a widow, a woman whose husband has died and who has not married again."

This scroll hanging on a log attracted my attention.

Beautiful detail.

St Simon and St Judes Anglican Cemetery

Note the ivy detail on the right side of this headstone.

Note the interesting discolouration of this headstone.

This is the first time I have seen a double grave

laid out in this manner.

Bong Bong Presbyterian Cemetery & St Andrews Moss Vale - Bong Bong

2010-02-07T19:14:00.001+11:00

Bong Bong Presbyterian Cemetery is located on Church Road, off Argyle Road as you approach Moss Vale from Bowral. The website that provides some information on the site gives the address as Bong Bong & Church Roads and that it is maintained by St Andrews Presbyterian Church Moss Vale. Here is a map to help you find it!

According to this site, the church within the cemetery grounds is actually called Christ Church Bong Bong and it was built in 1845 by Charles Throsby. It is one of the oldest buildings in the Southern Highlands ("Christ Church Bong Bong walls contain colours from the past")

Some of the highlights from the cemetery below: (more can be found at my photographic collection in the near future!)

I haven't ever seen an image like this -

a face with wings.

This was taken through an old glass cover laying upon a grave.

They are often seen on older graves covering:

flower arrangements, hands or small animals.

This detail looks almost like bat wings

Good view of the church pas these three stone crosses.

Cemeteries in the South West - Western Australia

2010-01-13T14:26:00.005+11:00

This is rather delayed as you can see by the date but now I would like to share some of my pictures from our trip to Western Australia, and specifically the South-west. Here is a map of the region and I will try to get to these in the order that we saw them. This page will serve as the main page for navigation to the various picture collections but each cemetery will have its own description and some choice photographs.

Itinerary
Nannup
Pemberton
Walpole
Denmark
Albany
Kojunup
Wagin

Cemeteries in the South-West of Western Australia - October 2009

Nannup Cemetery

2010-01-12T17:32:00.009+11:00

I like the idea of these angles laying atop the gravestone in such a manner.
There were a number of this kind of ornament in this cemetery -
the flower headdress being particulary common

There is not much information about this cemetery but I have scrapped together some material for this post. The town of Nannup has a population of about 1200 people and is located 282 km south of Perth.

According to the Municipal Shire of Nannup, the land for the cemetery was set aside in 1906. The first recorded Church of England internment was in 1908. The cemeteyr includes sections for various denominations and paupers. It is still in use today.

I love the effect that moss has on these simple figures.
Sometimes they can look rather menancing with the eyes
blackened but this seems to hold its innocence.

Sources:
History of Nannup
Shire of Nannup Municipal Inventory

Pemberton Cemetery

2010-01-11T17:49:00.001+11:00

Ned Kelly

Pemberton is located 335 km south of Perth and is in the heart of karri country. These trees are huge and there is a famous one that you can climb called the Gloucester tree (here is a picture of me climbing it!)

It was initially hard to recognise this figure, a horse,
because of the strange angle it is on. It looks as though
it is curling its head around the headstone.

Pemberton Cemetery
The following information is taken from the Cemetery and Historical Records in the Manjimup District website created by Judith Chequer.

"The Pemberton Cemetery was founded in the early 1920's with the earliest grave memorial remaining being for Wallace Thomson, who was buried on the 20th Dec 1920 in the Anglican section. Almost all the graves in this cemetery have grave number makers and the sites are easy to find. The Cemetery was initially divided into 3 sections; Catholic, Methodist and Anglican - which are now full - and a new Non Denominational section has been added to the South of the original site.

The graves without headstones are in the process of being restored by the Cemetery Committee, with the assistance of the RSL, and there is now a white cross marking each grave. The Cemetery Committee is also working on upgrading and correcting the records for the Shire Council and are to be commended for their wonderful work.

Pemberton Niche Wall

The Niche Wall is situated in the Pemberton Cemetery information building and was erected by the residents of Pemberton, with the assistance of the Green family. The Wall was dedicated on the 19th November 1993 and there is a plaque thanking the Green Family for their contribution to the wall."

This is layout map of the site including names and denominations. You can find a list of the names included in the niche wall here.

This piece actually had the thumb print of the sculptor visible on it.
It reads, "He died for freedom and honour".

Sources:
Shire of Manjimup
Pemberton Cemetery

Walpole Cemetery

2010-01-10T18:23:00.000+11:00

I thought this worth including both for its kitche factor but also
because I love the detail of the whale following Noah's Ark.

Walpole is situated 430 kilometres from Perth and has a population of about 500 people. Its main attraction, apart from being a coastal town is the Tree Top Walk in the Valley of the Giants. Here you can walk in the canopy so having a bird's eye view of the karri and tingle trees. Here is a picture of me on the specially designed suspension type bridge.

Walpole Cemetery

I wasn't able to find any information about the cemetery's history. However I did find mention of it in one (relatively) recent issue of the Walpole Weekly. In November 2008 there was an entry is about the need for a gazebo type building to be included in the grounds for the benefits of visitors. I don't recall seeing this gazebo when we were there so am not sure if it has gone ahead or not.

This is a rather motley collection of item which is why it is so interesting.
A clear stone, an angel head, a rocking horse, cupid and dead leaves.
An art work by accident.

Here is a link to the layout of the cemetery which includes the names and denominations of those buried there.

I often photograph broken items on gravestones. I think this is because
they seem to break the spell of the serenity of the grave itself. They are
unsettling but strangely beautiful.

Denmark Cemetery

2010-01-09T12:53:00.000+11:00

Denmark Cemetery

You will often see gnomes in cemeteries.

People like them in life...and in death it seems.

A dogs view of the cemetery.

Denmark is 414km from Perth and has a population of about 5000 people.

"The Denmark Cemetery is located on South Coast Highway and managed by the Denmark Shire Council." (Denmark Council) Committee meeting minutes are available here.

A cemetery map is located here.

Here is a link to the register of names of those buried.

This bird was laying on its side in the middle of the rows of headstones.

I wasn't sure where it belonged. I like the way it is just laying there.

Source:

The Denmark Cemetery - Denmark Shire Council.

Albany Cemetery

2010-01-08T13:25:00.000+11:00

Albany is located 409 km from Perth. It is famous in the region for being a whaling station. Operations ceased 20th of November 1978.
I learned on our trip here that this site was often the last seen by ANZAC (Australian and New Zealand ArmyCorps) troops as they left for World War I. More information on this can be found on this site.

Albany Cemetery
I was able to find some information about this cemetry which is included below the image:

The crack cuts right across the head of this angel.

The current name of the cemetery is the Albany Memorial Park Cemetery . Former names include; Memorial Park Cemetery, Old Albany Cemetery, Middleton Road Cemetery and Pioneer Cemetery. It is located on Middleton Road in Albany.

"Albany Memorial Park Cemetery, a hillside cemetery reserve of just over 2.5 hectares divided into denominational sections and containing approximately 5,000 graves, has cultural heritage significance for the following reasons:

the place is the first consecrated cemetery in Western Australia;
the place has a landmark quality on both sides of Middleton Road,which has provided the basis for the development of further recreational developments in the immediate vicinity;
the place is the burial ground for many people involved in the European settlement of the region, and of members of families prominent in the early history of Western Australia, particularly those prominent within the Great Southern regions;
the place is significant for the number of burials of people from different cultural backgrounds and is representative of the multicultural foundation of the development of the town and region;
the place is valued by the Albany and the Plantagenet regional community as a tangible reminder of the historical development of the town and region. The place is valued through its religious, historical, familial, personal and social associations and contributes to the local community’s sense of place; and,
the place is significant as a cultural landscape, a topographically unusual cemetery, and a collection of sepulchral masonry and ironwork" (Source: Heritage Council of Western Australia)

"The National Trust of Australia (WA) classified the Memorial Park Cemetery in December 2000 and it was placed on the permanent register of the Heritage Council of WA in 2003 and is also included in the Municipal Heritage Inventory of the City of Albany.
The entire Memorial Park Cemetery presents as a fascinating visitor experience – the setting, the landscape, the grave markings and the memorials commemorating the burials of people over one hundred years of the developing community of a port settlement which began in 1826, became a Town and finally a City and major regional centre.

Unusual item. Perhaps this person was a Doors fan?

"Peace Frog" being a famous song of theirs.

All the burials in the cemetery are significant from a social history point of view. Others are important for the materials used or for aesthetic appeal of the tombstones and railings. Many of the interest as servicemen, as mariners or as people of high profile in the life of Albany; most are relevant as ordinary people with no claim to notoriety." (Source: Albany Cemetery Board)

A List of famous people buried at the site is available here.

I have absolutely no idea what this is, however the shapes and

colours and interesting and provide a stark contrast to the grey of the headstone.

Sources:
Whaling in Albany - WhaleWorld
Albany's History - Albany Historical Society
Register of Heritage Places - Heritage Council of Western Australia
Albany Cemetery Board

Kojonup Cemetery

2010-01-07T13:54:00.000+11:00

Konjonup is located 260km from Perth. I wanted to visit this place as my great grandmother and great grandfather are buried here. I managed to find the grave after consulting the friendly and helpful staff at the local tourist information centre.

Konjonup Cemetery

This is the gravestone of my great grandparents. The inscription reads:

In Loving Memory of George Emery Gare

Beloved Husband of Henrietta

Loved father of Frank, Joan and Dick.

Born 1.9.1880 Died 28.4.1949

Later, when my great grandmother died, my grandfather (Frank Ellis Gare 1918-2003)

interred her ashes in the same grave and provided the additional inscription (see image).

The inscription reads:

And his loving wife

Henrietta

Born 11.3.1894 Died 2.9.1990

Together Again.

I was not able to locate much information on the internet, save for this link to the record of the cemetery under the Kojonup Cemetery Act of 1928.

I like the effect of the spider web on this angel's head and wings.

Someone has given this angel a flag to hold, rather unceremoniously held together with masking tape.

Wagin Cemetery

2010-01-06T14:24:00.000+11:00

Wagin is located 229 km of Perth. We only stopped here briefly on our way back to Perth, hence the small number of photographs.

I could not locate any online information about this particular cemetery.

The blue sky contrasts so well with the white angel in this shot.

This is a rather disturbing find. The child looks so agonised, but beautiful surrounded by flowers.

I love the singing trio. The red dust gives a real outback feel to this picture.

Death - The Last Taboo - The Australian Museum

2009-11-20T07:18:00.000+11:00

Death - The Last Taboo

Throughout the world, death and the rituals that surround it are steeped in taboos. Death is celebrated, embraced and feared. Around death and the dead, cultures put in place diverse restrictions and practices associated with clothing, food and ritual. This section of the Australian Museum website explores what happens to us when we die and the different ways we deal with death.

What we leave with the dead and why....and more

2009-10-26T07:17:00.004+11:00

Podcast from Thinking Allowed (BBC)

Laurie Taylor finds out about what we leave with the dead and why.

"From clothes to jewellery, photographs, hats, eye glasses, walking sticks, letters and even food, alcohol and tobacco, the objects mourners leave in the coffins and caskets of their loved ones tells us a huge amount about our attitudes to death and the rituals it involves.

Laurie talks to Sheila Harper, sociologist at the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath, whose new study about 'modern-day grave goods' uncovers the fascinating, touching and often moving examples of our gifts to the dead and why the objects we leave today are remarkably similar to the kinds of items uncovered by archaeologists in graves going back thousand of years.

Duncan Sayer, archaeologist from the Centre for Death and Society, discusses how human society has buried their dead.

Sheila Harper is an associate at the Centre for Death and Society at the University of Bath. Her PhD research focused on how mourners view the recently dead (in funeral establishments) and the ancient dead (in museums) in England and the United States. Sheila is also the Editorial Assistant for Mortality.

Paper: ‘I’m Glad She Has Her Glasses On. That Really Makes the Difference’ Grave Goods and Identity
By Sheila Harper

Duncan Sayer has PhD in Archaeology from the University of Reading. He has been a visiting lecturer at the Universities of Reading and Chester and is currently an associate lecturer at the University of Bath’s Centre for Death and Society."

Mortuary Practice and Social Identities in the Middle Ages
Sayer, D & Williams, H. (eds)
Publisher: University of Exeter Press
ISBN-10: 0859898318
ISBN-13: 978-0859898317

Have a listen

Glass Flower Collection

2009-07-23T13:46:00.004+10:00

On my recent (re)visit to Rookwood Cemetery I noted in the Macedonian section of the park a recurring them in terms of flora decoration. The glass flowers came in all shapes, sizes and colours and were particularly beautiful additions to the plots. I took a number of pictures of these which can be seen either in the picture gallery on the right or at here.

New additions

2009-07-23T13:01:00.007+10:00

News
I have added some new (old) pictures to the photographic collection including Belgrade New Cemetery and some new photographs from my recent return visit to Rookwood Cemetery.

Recent Visits
Today I went out to revisit Waverley Cemetery and found some really amazing statues, headstones and inscriptions. See my selection below - the full photographic collection will go up as soon as my partner processes them!

Pinegrove Memorial Park

2009-05-10T12:36:00.008+10:00

On the last day of the school holidays I decided to stop programming lessons for Term 2 and go out to take some more photographs. The journey to PineGrove Memorial Park took about 45 minutes on the way there, and about 75 on the way back (did not think of peak hour traffic!). It was a rather strange experience as it is a relatively new cemetery and has large tracks of unused land. The design is interesting, especially the specially designed Asian burial grounds completed with Lion gates. It is not as inviting as other cemeteries however, perhaps because it is so new and rather 'artificial' in its presentation and variety of memorials..

I have included a selection of photographs from the day here, and have added the rest to the photographic collection (see navigation bar). they turned out better than I expected. I think this might have had something to do with the light - a cold day with bright light. Most of the pictures were taken between 3pm and 4.30pm.

Ps. I have uploaded the rest of the cemetery photographs from Canberra and other Sydney locations as well, finally.

Woden Cemetery

2009-04-27T10:15:00.012+10:00

On a recent trip to Canberra, we visited Woden Cemetery. See this map for the exact location. It is a rather beautifully set out cemetery, fan like in its layout.

History

"Opened in 1936 and closed in 1979. The Cemetery was re-opened in March 1999. This formally planned cemetery features many stately mature trees and offers lawn and monumental burial sites in different religious and general areas." Source

and this....

"Woden Cemetery was Canberra's first public cemetery, opening in January 1936 as a denominational cemetery. The plan included the provision of areas for special buildings at a later date and the cemetery was designed to both reflect our heritage and allow for future enhancement of the landscaped gardens. It is a formally planned, open park style cemetery with many stately mature trees and lawn and monumental burial sites in different religious and general areas.

Woden Cemetery was closed in August 1979 except for burials for which reservations are held. The cemetery was re-opened in March 1999. In 1992 Memorial Gardens for interment of ashes and an ex-Service section were added. An enclosed mausoleum, called Christ the Redeemer Mausoleum, for burial in 304 above ground vaults was completed in 2001.

A Garden of Remembrance opened in 2005, for official commemoration of war veterans where it cannot be provided at the gravesite or crematorium. In a uniquely Australian concept, eligible war veterans are permanently commemorated using individual bronze plaques mounted on walls in a landscaped garden. Previously, most of the veterans from the ACT and surrounding districts were commemorated at the NSW Garden of Remembrance in Rookwood, Sydney, but the majority of those plaques have now been transferred to Canberra. The Garden also features a visitor pavilion, seating and symbolic artwork.

While the majority of burials are of Canberrans, ashes and memorial plaques represent people from as far south as Eden and as far north as Goulburn.,Woden Cemetery forms part of the Woden Town Park." Source

I have included a selection of photographs but more will be available when we can get around to uploading this and two other collections - Liverpool General Cemetery and St Peters Anglican Church cemetery. When these are online I will include a short piece on each.

Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium

2008-10-13T10:54:00.010+11:00

This large cemetery contained some very interesting sites including a large number of Asian graves (we found a stash of "Hell money" at one of the sites) a number of single raised crypts and a rather intriguing "Station of the Cross" walk...more on that later. It is beautifully laid out and contains a lovely mix of the old and the new.

The Macquarie Park Cemetery and Crematorium is located in North Ryde. Here is a map of the grounds.

The website for the cemetery is rather odd. The first page has postcards of sorts with different people coupled with phrases such as, "Look after my grandma". I am not sure what purpose they serve but I thought it rather odd.
However, I thought this message on the website was particularly interesting:
"Families wishing to release Ballons or Doves should contact:
Civil Aviation Safety Authority
Sydney Region, Bankstown
Phone: (02) 9780 3007"

A Brief History of the Site

"The cemetery comprising approximately 160 acres was dedicated in 1902 to be known as Northern Suburbs General Cemetery Trust. It is owned by the NSW Government and operated under the Trusteeship of Honorary Trust Board members.

The first Trust appointed in 1921 comprised Rev J G M Taylor and Messrs
C B Thistlewaite, G Chalmers and A J Hare and as was the custom in those days the cemetery was divided into various denominational areas.

The first burial took place on 20 April 1922 Henry Mashman, in the Church of England area (G1 Grave No. 5.)" (Taken from website)

Randwick General Cemetery

2008-09-14T15:42:00.004+10:00

The first thing that struck me in this cemetery was the amount of grave desecration. Apart from bottles, plastic bags and other rubbish around the graves, the headstones and various adornments we often broken or completely destroyed. After hunting for some good and unusual pieces I had to take cover the in the mausoleums after being swooped numerous times by a rather territorial magpie. I managed to get some good shots, and have included these on the picture collection to the right of the posts.

Some information about Randwick Cemetery:

"Until January 1871 (when it was closed) the main cemetery for the Randwick area was at St Jude's Church. After that date, residents went to Rookwood, (then called Haslems Creek), Cemetery. In December, 1871 a petition from residents requested that Council "take necessary steps to secure a Cemetery for the residents of this neighbourhood." The petition went on to state that burials at Haslems Creek were "entirely unsuited to the requirements of this district." This twelve month delay shows that, although residents were prepared to trial Haslems Creek, some problem, (probably either cost or travel problems), made this cemetery inconvenient.

Simeon Pearce, at the same meeting, proposed a motion (which was carried), that the Mayor, Alderman Walter Bradley, approach the Minister for Lands, requesting him to "dedicate certain lands for a cemetery... and to arrange what settlement for the land they may deem correct." However, at the following meeting, on 20 December 1871, Pearce successfully proposed that the Council ask to purchase land in the Parish of Botany on the Long Bay Road (now Malabar Road). These two sections were in a little valley facing south with the drainage towards Maroubra Beach.

The request to the Government for the land took a year to be answered. Approval was finally given for Council to purchase the land for a cemetery on 4 December, 1872 at a cost of 45/12/6 pounds. Over one year had passed since the petition from Randwick residents was first presented to Council.

Another nineteen months were to pass before the cemetery approached the stage of being used. During that time, the Cemetery By-Laws were adopted by Council on 8 January 1873. It took the Government another three months to approve these regulations."

Taken from A History of Randwick Cemetery (Randwick Council)

Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery

2008-08-24T18:43:00.010+10:00

Today we ventured out to Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery after having a great yoga session and yummy brunch with friends (thanks Mary & Dan). We traveled ALL the way over to the North shore and found this little cemetery on the outskirts of the Garigal National Park

Taken from the official website:

Brief History

"The Frenchs Forest Bushland Cemetery occupies an area of 22 hectares (54 acres) of typical Hawkesbury Sandstone Bushland. On the 23rd January 1932, the Metropolitan Lands Department gazetted the site and officially dedicated it on the 8th October 1937 with the first burial taking place on the 24th April 1940. The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Most Reverend HWK Mowll, consecrated the Cemetery on the 20th February 1955.
Up to 1990 the Cemetery was known as The Frenchs Forest General Cemetery, the change to the present name being adopted to reflect the Bushland theme."

Most of the pictures will be up soon, but here is a small taster of some of the interesting things we found...

Gore Hill Memorial Park

2008-07-11T17:11:00.010+10:00

It was a glorious day today and so after a lovely brunch with friends in Surry Hills, I ventured
over the bridge to Gore Hill Cemetery (now Memorial Park). Some details about the site:

"Originally dedicated on 19 May 1868, the Cemetery covers around 5.7 hectares. The first known burial was in 1877 but earlier monuments are to be found, transferred here from Devonshire Street Cemetery. Planned as a formal Victorian-Edwardian landscape garden, and enclosed by mature evergreen trees, the Cemetery exhibits a wide variety of plantings and many fine examples of the stonemason’s art. The Cemetery was closed to burials in 1974. A Memorial Garden for the placement of ashes was established in 1991. The site was declared an historic cemetery in 1986 and is listed on the State Heritage Register." Taken from Willoughby City Council website.

There is no wikipedia entry on this site, so I think I might do a little digging to see what I can find on this place. My main focus today was on merging the living plants with the stone gravestones. Flowers of many colours were out and their vibrancy compared well with the hard stone. I have included 10 of my favourite pictures on this post - and more will be able to be seen when the rest have been uploaded.

There were lots of little paths, brick paved, grassy and those trodden out by footsteps seeking those lost gravestones near the end of the park. As the park is right opposite the North Shore Hospital, I suspect many workers and perhaps patients might find themselves wandering around there on a sunny day. Certainly I saw a number of amblers today.

St Judes Anglican Church Cemetery

2008-05-25T12:52:00.005+10:00

I dragged my partner out of the house yesterday afternoon to go and visit the very small cemetery located at the back of St Judes Anglican Church in Randwick. This heritage listed church and cemetery contains a number of ornate headstones and monuments.

I thought that they cemetery had closed its gates to new burials but found one from 2007 inside. Historical information is scarely available on the internet about this burial ground but books available at the Randwick library and my own school library will fill out the story. I will add to this entry soon. In the meantime here are some selected photos. As always, you can see the rest of the photographic collection from the link on the right.

The Prince Henry (Coast) Hospital Cemetery (Little Bay - Botany National Park)

2008-04-27T14:46:00.007+10:00

A hospital was established at Little Bay in 1881 after an outbreak of smallpox in the inner suburbs of Sydney. It was established in this location as it was deemed far enough away from the main centre to ensure that the infectious disease would spread. This quarantined site soon became the recipient of all infectious disease cases in Sydney including those suffering from typhoid fever, bubonic plague and leprosy. The cemetery was established soon after to house the patients who succumbed to these diseases.

Over 2000 people were buried in the cemetery. However, many of the headstones have not survived, many are undesc, but each headstone has been fully transcribed if possible, and of course, some of the people who were buried there would never have had a headstone in the first place.

Source: Cape Banks Family History Society Inc

Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park (update)

2008-04-22T17:05:00.000+10:00

I took advantage of the relatively sunny afternoon to head back to get some more photographs at this site and to see the Pioneer Memorial Park. Headstones and bodies were moved here after the closure of the Old Burial Grounds in Sydney central. I found some interesting pieces on the graves including a tin of herring. Other interesting items included an electric lamp in the shape of the nativity scene and a ceramic Mary. The design of the gardens is quite beautiful with a waterfall and pond dividing a part of the grounds. The above ground vaults are quite extraordinary and ornate and house some beautiful statues in the areas set aside for contemplation. More photographs available here.

Wikipedia entry

2008-04-21T14:32:00.000+10:00

I used some of the information in my blog and some personal photographs to create a wikipedia page for Camperdown Cemetery.

Camperdown Cemetery (Newtown, NSW)

2008-04-20T15:50:00.000+10:00

I really need to go through my photographic collection systematically and write a little about each one I have visited. I aim to provide links to present and historical information, photographs, links to library resources, maps and other useful information. First one to be tackled is Camperdown Cemetery in Newtown.

Camperdown Cemetery History (so far)

About 18,000 people have been buried in the (once large) cemetery which was consecrated in 1849. Some of the old headstones were repositioned around the stone walls of the current cemetery. Burials ceased in the 1940s (Morgan, 1998)

There are a number of famous people buried there including Sir Thomas Mitchell, the explorer and surveyor-general of NSW (Webster, 2007). Also Eliza Donnithorne, who is believed to have been the inspiration for Miss Havisham in Great Expectations. An interesting story accompanies this lady. Apparently, "after her groom failed to turn up for their wedding breakfast, she left the breakfast on the table until the day she died. Charles Dickens heard about her from her neighbour, his friend Caroline Chisholm" (Webster, 2007). In December 2004 her grave headstone was smashed into 3 pieces. Peter Rodgers (then St Stephen's Anglican Church minister) requested funds to repair the headstone (and reinstate the original gates). The Newtown community came out to assist, ""We've received support from dog walkers, the gothic community, local residents coming in and people ringing up from all over the place...We also got funding from the Dickens Society." (The Glebe, 2004). The grave was repaired by The National Trust of Australia, Rookwood Anglican Cemetery and students from TAFE students as part of their monumental repair and maintenance course (The Glebe, 2004).

However, the famous shared the space with the less well known. One plaque reads: "In memory of the many humble, undistinguished, unknown, unremembered folk buried in this cemetery whose names are not written in the book of history, but are written in the book of life." (Webster, 2007) The cemetery is also home to 22 of the passengers aboard the Dunbar, the ship that sank off South Head in 1857 on a return voyage from England, killing 121 passengers. A special altar contains the remains.

There are also reports of ghosts in the cemetery; two in particular. "Bathsheba Ghost", a matron of the Sydney Infirmary, was buried there in 1868. Some locals also believe the wife of Sydney harbourmaster Thomas Watson - after whom Watson's Bay is named - occupies corner of the graveyard in search of her lover (Morgan, 1998)

After a murder in 1946, much of the original 4.8 hectare cemetery was turned into a public park. Four acres were set aside for the cemetery and the headstones from the park were relocated.
"What most people don't know," says Ms Ward, "is they didn't move the bodies, they just moved the headstones. Throughout Camperdown Memorial Park the bodies are still there under the park." (SMH, October 6, 2007)

Books

The darker side of Newtown and surrounds : a self guided tour for the misguided / National Trust of Australia

Self guided tour of Camperdown Cemetery / Camperdown Cemetery Trust

Historic Camperdown / by the Rev. T. G. Rees.

Online Articles

It was murder and mayhem in old Newtown

Websites

Camperdown Cemetery (Sydney Distance Education High School in conjunction with Camperdown Cemetery Trust)
Camperdown Cemetery (Sydney Webcam)

Photographs

My photographs
Camperdown Cemetery Restoration Project
Old Historical Camperdown Cemetery 1 (State Library of Victoria)
Old Historical Camperdown Cemetery 2 (State Library of Victoria)
Old Historical Camperdown Cemetery 3 (State Library of Victoria)
Old Historical Camperdown Cemetery 4 (State Library of Victoria)
St Stephen's Church - Camperdown Cemetery (State Library of Victoria)
Plaque to the humble residents (Sydney Distance Education High School)

References

Morgan, J (1998) " Lay A Ghost As You Picnic", Sydney Morning Herald, 17 October 1998. Retrieved, April 20, 2008 from Factiva Database.

Sydney Distance Education High School (2003) Camperdown Cemetery. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://www.ssdec.nsw.edu.au/history/camperdown/

Webster, S (2007) "It's a grave grave world", Sun Herald , 21 January 2007. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from Factiva Database.

Historic Grave Wrecked (2004) The Glebe, 1 November 2004, Retrieved, April 20, 2008 from Factiva Database.

"It was mayhem and murder in old Newtown" (2007) Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved April 20, 2008 from http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/10/05/1191091364643.html

Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park

2008-04-20T13:50:00.000+10:00

I visited the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park Cemetery on the 19th of April, a rather wet and windy day. I took some photographs but was having problems with the camera batteries so have resolved to go back another day to explore further and take some more photographs. The cemetery is in a great location overlooking the sea and it is quite large. You can see the cemetery clearly from the lookout point of Molineaux Point in Botany (although not in this picture). I will include a link from this page to pictures from the cemetery. I have also listed a link to my photographic collection which has includes pictures from cemeteries in Europe, South America and Australia.

With regard to my research about the tram line that was installed to move headstones and bodies from the old burial grounds to the Bunnerong Cemetery, I visited the State Library NSW on Sunday to see if I might be able to find anything useful. There was nothing on the library electronic but I was advised to check in the Mitchell Library on the card catalogue. I hope to do that this week.

Next visit - Pioneer Memorial Park

2008-04-08T16:57:00.001+10:00

Pioneer Memorial Park

I was driving in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney last week and found myself driving alongside the old cemetery called the Pioneer Memorial Park which is part of the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park. This section contains some of the earliest burials in Sydney.

"Created in 1976 through the dedicated effort of Fred W. Read and fellow Botany Cemetery Trustees, Pioneer Memorial Park has 746 surviving memorials of the many that were transported from the early burial grounds of Sydney in 1901." (taken from Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park)

Old Burial Grounds and Town Hall Cemetery

The Sydney Burial Ground, or Old Devonshire Ground Cemetery was created in 1819. It operated until 1868. Roughly, 5,000 memorial stones were erected over this period. Family plot burials continued until 1888 (Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park)

Many bodies were moved from the old Town Hall Cemetery and the Sydney Burial Grounds (also known as the Devonshire Street Cemetery and the Sandhills cemetery) after the closure of these facilities. In 1901, the government of NSW asked the descendants those who had died and been buried at the Devonshire Street Cemetery to relocate the monuments and remains 'at the government's expense because of plans to build the Central Railway Station. They were given "2 months to arrange for the exhumation and removal of remains." (Wikipedia) They were duly moved to a number of different Sydney cemeteries including: Rookwood, Camperdown, South Head, Waverly, Gore Hill and Bunnerong.

Bunnerong Cemetery

"The remains that were unclaimed were relocated to a purpose built cemetery named Bunnerong Cemetery. This new cemetery south of the city had a tram line constructed to make the removal of recasketed remains as simple as possible. Bunnerong Cemetery was next to the Botany Cemetery and in the early 1970s was absorbed by that cemetery to create the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park."

Pioneer Burials

"The majority of the monuments, including some of those of Sydney’s earliest settlers, which had fortunately been relocated by their families from Town Hall Cemetery to the Old Burial Ground in the 1820’s, were taken to 25 acres known as Bunnerong Cemetery which was in the custody of the Botany Cemetery Trust..... In 1972 Botany Cemetery Trust was given permission to re-use Bunnerong Cemetery for current burials. At that time a part of the land, now known as Pioneer Memorial Park was set aside for the re-erection and display of the headstones that were still legible and salvageable or specimens of monumental art." (Easter Suburbs Memorial Park)

I am looking forward to visiting this historic site and hopefully wandering around the adjacent grounds. It is interesting to note that when government made this offer to move graves from the old burial grounds to the new cemetery in Botany that they created a tram line to make this process easier. Looking at the history of this now defunct tram line has turned up a few leads, but it would be interesting to find further information on when it operated and for how long...and what happened to it.

Link for Tram Line to Bunnerong Cemetery
City Rail - Central Station

Link to Map of the Cemetery

First post...

2008-04-06T14:48:00.000+10:00

Well I have decided to gather some information on one of my pet projects and small obsessions...cemetery curiosities. I have been interested in cemeteries and their (above ground) contents for some time, and this has extended to a even more purposeful study of funeral trains associated with cemeteries. To this end I have added some articles about the Mortuary Station, Redfern (Sydney) on Wikipedia and have written an article which I have attached here about the history of the station.
I would like to use this site as a central point for information about funeral rites (especially during Victorian times) and all information relating to cemeteries and their gardens, monuments, sculpture, and other tidbits. I just recently visit Woronora Cemetery in Sutherland and took some pictures - some of which are on the blog. The rest are available at the following link. I particularly wanted to go to this cemetery because it is one of three in NSW that had funeral trains attending them. The other two were Rookwood Cemetery and Sandgate Cemetery. I hope to visit Sandgate Cemetery which is near Newcastle soon.

All for now,

AiW